Rebecca Draper Townsend, beautiful, loving, and treasured youngest daughter of Dr Joan Draper and Dr Gary Townsend of Brookfield, died in a tragic accident in Danbury, July 2. She was born in Danbury, August 12, 1997.

In addition to her parents, her grandparents, Dr and Mrs Thomas F. Draper of Newtown, and Tina Townsend of Danbury;  her sisters and spouses, Valerie and Kris Hansen, Stephanie and John McGrory, and Monica Townsend and Victoria Townsend, survive her. She will be desperately missed by her many aunts and uncles, including Donna Draper and Alan Chapin of Newtown; her eight loving nieces and nephews; her 19 adoring cousins; numerous other relatives; countless friends and teachers whose lives she touched; and her puggle. Her grandfather, Luther Townsend, predeceased Rebecca.

Rebecca recently graduated from Immaculate High School with distinguished honors, and was excited about starting college at the University of Notre Dame in the fall.

She loved theater, fashion, travel, and helping those around her. She was passionate about working with children and made a difference in many lives through her volunteering at Head Start, and starting a chapter of the charity “She's the First” at Immaculate. When she wasn’t baking cupcakes for a “She’s the First” fundraiser, playing volleyball, or trying out the newest fashion trends, she could be found onstage or behind the scenes in many of Immaculate High School’s drama productions.

She enjoyed her adventures with her family traveling around the world, spending time back in Brookfield with her friends, and her extended family trips to Cape May each year.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, July 7, at 11 am, at St Joseph Church, 163 Whisconier Road, Brookfield, with the Reverend George F. O’Neill, pastor, and the Reverend Jeff W. Couture, Immaculate High School spiritual director, as principle celebrants.  Burial will follow in Newtown Village Cemetery, Elm Drive, Newtown. Friends will be received Monday, July 6, from 3 pm to 7 pm, at St Joseph Church.  A prayer service will be conducted in the church at 7 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions to the Rebecca Draper Townsend Memorial Fund, made to Immaculate High School, 73 Southern Boulevard, Danbury CT 06810, a portion of which will be allocated to the nonprofit “She’s the First” to help educate girls in the developing world.